Overview
There is a crisis happening in our schools for which currently there is not enough adequate support.
Neurodiversity in children is having a detrimental effect on their lives because they are stuck in a system where the traditional school system’s ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work for those with a diverse brain. The inflexible rules, sensory overload (noise, lights), and rigid schedules hinder neurodivergent students.
Those within the education or child care setting aren’t adequately prepared to support neurodiversity, leading to misinterpreting needs or lacking effective strategies. Underfunded and understaffed special education programs struggle to provide individualised attention, making support hard to access until a crisis hits.
The system often waits for a diagnosis, delaying help, and focuses on regulation disorders, (what’s “wrong”) rather than strengths, creating an emotional regulation disorder-based model. There is pressure for conformity, emphasis on exams and a single path to success (e.g., university) which ignores diverse talents and pathways, causing trauma and school refusal.
A child not being diagnosed or given the tools to manage their feelings, their mood and the ability to cope with daily life is having a consequence to the individual, their families, society, our community and the tax-payer. an estimated 25% of prisoners have ADHD; they are more likely to start offending at a young age and have a higher risk of re-offending. There is also a financial impact, prisoners with ADHD cost at least £590 per year in medical care adding up
to around £11.7million. Sadly, autistic children are 28 times more likely to think about or try suicide. One study has shown that 15% of autistic children had suicidal thoughts compared to 0.5% of typically developing children.
But what if there was a way we could coach, mentor and teach children, young teens and adults a way of handling their ‘feelings’ so they are able to focus better at school, not be overwhelmed and manage their anxiety and need for immediate enjoyment/satisfaction (which may lead to high-risk situations, gambling or substance abuse)? For example, by applying pressure to acupuncture points to help them with their neurodiversity, their anxiety, being overwhelmed, etc. – we don’t wish to cure them, as they have amazing brains, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Sir Richard Branson to name a few, have been game changers through history and the business world.
My interest and now passion in exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) started for me when I was receiving treatment for anxiety. Yin Tang was one of the points being used on me to calm my mind; at the same time my 7-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD. On one of the many nights, he could not sleep and I was in his room trying to ‘calm’ him, I gently started to stroke Yin Tang, for at least 20 minutes gradually the talking stopped, the mind seems to stop ‘whirring’ and he went to sleep. What was this I had discovered?
TCM is one of the world’s longest-standing medical traditions and has been shaped over more than two thousand years. Its foundations rest on the idea that good health depends on maintaining balance and harmony with the body and between the individual and their surroundings. Rather than focusing only isolated symptoms, it looks how physical processes, emotional states, lifestyle, and environmental factors interrelate.
Research has found a link between low dopamine levels and ADHD. [3 Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps control motivation, mood, memory, attention, and emotions. Research shows that people with ADHD often have lower or differently functioning dopamine systems. As a result, focus, motivation, and emotional regulation can be affected.
Conventional treatment for ADHD usually involves behavioural therapy, education about the condition, and medications, including both stimulant and non-stimulant options. While these remain the most evidence-supported interventions, interest in complementary and integrative therapies has grown steadily. Among these, acupuncture has emerged as a therapy aimed at supporting emotional regulation, reducing stress, and improving overall wellbeing in individuals with ADHD.
The theory of acupuncture
Acupuncture is based on the philosophy that the body has a network of meridians through which energy, or Qi (pronounced “chee”), flows. These meridians run throughout the whole body and are arranged in Yin and Yang pairs, mirroring each other on the surface. They link the Zang-Fu organs internally and connect them to the rest of the body. By working with specific points along these meridians, acupuncture aims to rebalance Yin and Yang and support healthy function of the Zang-Fu organs by encouraging the smooth flow of Qi and blood.
In TCM, Qi is the fundamental vital life force or energy that flows through the body along pathways called meridians. Qi comes in many forms, but for simplicity, the role of Qi is to flow through the body along meridians to nourish organs and maintain the body’s balance.
The organs in TCM are part of a much wider, interconnected system. Their roles do not always match the functions of their Western anatomical roles, as they are understood in a broader, more functional and energetic way.
The Zang-Fu Theory reflects the Chinese medicine view of the body as an integrated whole. Our physical processes, emotions, mental activity, tissues, sense organs and even the way we respond to our environment relate to an organ.
The Heart is said to house the mind (Shen) and the spirit. This includes mental activity, memory, consciousness, clarity of thought, emotional expression and the ability to settle into sleep. The Heart also influences speech, reflecting how clearly and calmly the Shen is functioning. When the Shen becomes unsettled, it can show up as anxiety, agitation, restlessness or racing thoughts. In some people, this pattern may overlap with behaviours often associated with ADHD, such as difficulty focusing, mental overactivity or trouble winding down.
In TCM, the Liver meridian is responsible for keeping Qi moving smoothly throughout the body. This smooth flow supports steady energy, emotional regulation, clear thinking and healthy digestion. When Liver Qi becomes constrained, or when Liver Yang rises too forcefully, the system can lose that sense of ease and flexibility.
These patterns may show up as restlessness, irritability, impulsive behaviour, frustration, difficulty unwinding or a feeling of being mentally “on edge.” For some people, this can overlap with behaviours often associated with ADHD, such as quick emotional shifts, difficulty sitting still, acting before thinking or feeling easily overwhelmed.
The Spleen in TCM is responsible for transforming nutrients from food into usable energy and supporting clear, grounded thinking. When the Spleen isn’t functioning well, this transformation process becomes less efficient, which can lead to fatigue, sluggishness, poor concentration and weaker memory. The Spleen also “houses the intellect”, meaning it supports our ability to study, memorise, organise information and stay focused on tasks.
When Spleen Qi is weakened, it may show up as difficulty concentrating, mental fog, forgetfulness or feeling easily overwhelmed, patterns that can overlap with behaviours often associated with ADHD.
The kidneys are considered the root of our inherited essence in TCM. They govern growth, development and the production of marrow, which includes nourishing the brain. The kidneys also house willpower, giving us motivation, determination and a sense of initiative.
When kidney essence is weak, the brain may not be fully nourished, which can show up as poor concentration, mental fatigue, slower processing or difficulty sustaining focus. Because the kidneys support willpower, deficiency can also lead to low motivation, trouble starting tasks or feeling easily depleted, patterns that can overlap with behaviours often associated with ADHD.
Theoretical Foundations of acupuncture in ADHD
No such disease called ‘autism’ exists in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In TCM, autism is called “Self-Shut-Off Syndrome” or the “Lonely Syndrome”. Traditionally in TCM, all children with mental impedance, cerebral palsy, autism, global developmental delay or delayed language development are grouped under the syndrome of “5-Delays”. This syndrome is based on observed delays in hair growth, teeth eruption, speech, standing and walking. In the TCM concept, brain dysfunction in children is an imbalance of body functions.
In TCM, ADHD symptoms are understood not as isolated behavioural issues, but as manifestations of underlying energetic imbalances. Practitioners
often associate hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation with disturbances in the Heart, Liver, and Kidney systems. These systems are believed to influence cognitive clarity, emotional stability, and developmental processes. Acupuncture aims to restore balance within these systems by stimulating specific points along meridians to regulate the flow of Qi (vital energy).
From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture is understood to work through the body’s own neurophysiological pathways. Emerging research suggests it can influence neurotransmitters, help regulate the autonomic nervous system, and encourage the release of the body’s natural opioids and neuropeptides. These responses are associated with reduced stress, steadier mood, and improved cognitive functioning, factors that may indirectly support individuals living with ADHD.
From a TCM perspective, supporting and calming the Heart-Shen can help restore a sense of steadiness and improve overall mental balance; strengthening the Spleen helps improve clarity, steadiness and the ability to stay mentally engaged; and finally, strengthening the kidneys helps support clearer thinking, steadier focus and a more consistent sense of drive.
We are aware that acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points on the body, i.e., arms, legs and torso. To a child, an adult coming towards them with a needle is scary and can be traumatising; for a neurodiverse child, this could be even more challenging. Then, for a neurodiverse child, lying still for thirty minutes with needles inserted for the treatment to be effective has the potential for additional challenges.
An alternative to needles would be ear seeds, especially for those children over the age of eight years. Traditional ear seeds come from the Vaccaria plant, but modern-day options include different types of metal such as gold, silver or other metals. They are non-invasive, needle-free, with the ‘seed’ on an adhesive backing, so they can be placed gently on the ear at the specific point.
The ear is considered a microsystem of the body. A microsystem is a small, specific area that is believed to reflect the entire body in miniature. Instead of using acupuncture points on the body, a practitioner works within one focused region, such as the ear, hand, scalp, or foot, to influence wider physical or emotional functions. A well-known example of this type of approach is reflexology.
Auriculotherapy was discovered by Dr Paul Nogier in 1950; it is now one of the most widely used microsystems within the TCM community. The auricular (ear) microsystem in this approach is viewed as a detailed map of the entire body, represented in the shape of an upside-down foetus. Each area of the ear corresponds to organs, systems, brain functions or musculoskeletal. There are specific points linked to pain, stress, digestion, sleep, emotional balance, and much more, which are linked to the appropriate nerve branches in the ear. This makes the ear a highly accessible and effective microsystem for influencing both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Whilst having done a diagnosis on the patient, practitioners commonly use the organs heart, liver, spleen and kidney to help with the behaviours of neurodiversity. Using the ear, we are able to access the organs of the heart, liver, spleen and kidneys. Treatment on the ear can feel less threatening than on the torso or limbs.
In addition, we are able to provide points that parents are able to place seeds on to help them in their day to day with their child. Most parents, carers of ADHD children and the child find they struggle the most with four categories of behaviour.
- Regulate behaviour – emotional impulsivity, low frustration tolerance, difficulty
pausing before reacting. - Emotional regulation – difficulty recovering from upset, emotional rumination, getting stuck in frustration ‘meltdowns’.
- Lack of focus or concentration – weak working memory, task initiation problems, impulse control difficulties, inconsistent attention.
- Lack of awareness or timing – poor time sense, rushed or disorganised movement, sleep dysregulation.
The auricular microsystem has points within the ear that are able to support all of these. They are easy to find and able to place an ear seed on. For example, in TCM, the point Shen Men is known as Spirit Gate.
Shen Men is considered one of the most calming and regulating points in auricular acupuncture. associated with calming the Shen, which refers to the mind, spirit, and emotional centre. Used to settle agitation, anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional dysregulation.
Sympathetic. This point focuses on the autonomic nervous system, especially the sympathetic branch (the part responsible for fight-or-flight responses). For individuals who become easily overwhelmed, hypervigilant, or physically tense, something very common in neurodivergent profiles, this point helps soften the body’s stress response and encourages a shift toward rest-and-digest mode.
These two points are often paired because they complement each other beautifully. Shen Men calms the emotional and mental storm, and Sympathetic calms the physical and autonomic storm. Together, they help regulate emotional dysregulation, sensory overwhelm, pain sensitivity, fight-or-flight activation, and stress-related behaviours, they are two of the most widely used auricular (ear) acupuncture points, especially in treatments that support emotional regulation, stress, pain, and autonomic balance, and are part of many auricular protocols because they work on the body’s “control systems” rather than just one symptom. By pressing gently on the seed, they can be activated and stimulate the points.
As a mother of a neurodiverse son who is a young teenager, I know how emotionally dysregulated he can become. He sees me as his safe space, which means he often holds in all his big feelings and then shares them with me when he feels it is safe to do so (or we talk about it when he has had a ‘meltdown’). He is also very aware of needles and strongly associates them with pain, so he would really struggle to let me carry out any acupuncture needle placement, even as his safe person. Some children, as part of their neurodivergent traits, are hypersensitive to pain, which adds another layer of difficulty.
I have used the ear seeds with my son on Shen Men and Sympathetic when I knew we would encounter situations and scenarios which would overstimulate him. The first was a day trip to London, which included an evening theatre performance. The second was when we travelled through an airport going on our summer holiday.
Both of these scenarios are super exciting: bright lights, noise, and lots of people are all the things that will trigger his senses. We were able to extend the day in London, as he was able to remain regulated. The journey to get to our final destination was a lot calmer and more relaxed for all concerned, especially as it was a long day after the flight was delayed for more than six hours.
However, further research has demonstrated that there are additional points within the ear that can stimulate pathways that calm emotional reactions, strengthen the brain’s ability to pause before acting, enhance focus and behavioural inhibition, and also support timing and rhythm networks that contribute to improved movement, sleep, and overall readiness.
For example, there is a “Vagus Nerve” point on the ear, the vagus nerve is a communication highway between the body and the brain. Its core role is to support the parasympathetic system of ‘rest, regulate and recover’. Stimulating this point by placing an ear seed on it enabled us to reduce the parasympathetic system to ‘calm’.
Children with ADHD often have brain networks that do not communicate as smoothly as they need to for things like focus, emotional control and pausing before reacting. When we stimulate certain points on the ear, we activate pathways that help these networks “talk” to each other more effectively.
One example is a set of three points linked with pathways connected to the corpus callosum – the part of the brain that helps the left and right sides work together. When this communication is stronger, children often find it easier to manage their emotions, organise their thoughts, and stay on track with tasks.
Providing training and support to parents, they will be able to support their child at home with these points for the ADHD behaviours or scenarios that will overwhelm them, i.e., school and everyday life. When parenting a neurodiverse child, the smallest shifts can create the biggest changes at home, and in this instance in a positive way. The child can learn to ask for the seeds as they recognise the benefit and, in time, apply their own seeds. My own son will now ask for me to acupressure Yin Tang at bedtime, as he has recognised when his mind needs calming for sleep. He has also started to ask for ear seeds when he needed to be calm, for instance, when we went to a restaurant recently. To me as a mother, having a calm child and not being on edge and being judged for having a ‘poorly behaved’ child, is a massive difference to being able to be relaxed and enjoy a social occasion.
The ear seeds can be worn at school, therefore helping with concentration and focus and the decrease in likelihood of the child being labelled as the ‘naughty’ child. Ear seeds are classed as a medical device, and a letter to the school should not prohibit the child from wearing them at school.
Acupressure on other points on the body could be shown to the main care provider so these can be stimulated at home. These points could be incorporated into part of the child’s bedtime routine to support and strengthen the ear seeds and provide natural tools to comfort and support the child at home.
Acupressure is the art of applying gentle pressure to certain points to calm, relieve discomfort and regain balance. This can be done by placing a finger or an acupressure pen gently over the point for at least ten seconds. There are seven points to support parents: LI4 between the thumb and index finger, for headaches and feeling restless at home; PC6, in the inside of the wrist, for anxiety in the tummy (this is a good point on the way to school or prior to school, especially if they are feeling nervous); LV3, on the foot, for trouble sleeping and calming after a meltdown to help calm their nervous system; LV2, also on the foot, for anger, stress, insomnia and headaches; Yin Tang, in between the eyes, is for feeling worried, struggling to fall asleep, or overwhelmed by emotions; DU20 on the top of the head, when they have become overstimulated or are unable to concentrate; and KD1 on the base of the foot when energy is still running high – this is good for reducing hyperactivity.
Over time, hopefully, a relationship with the acupuncturist and the child will form so scalp acupuncture can also be used to support the ear seeds and the acupressure routine. Scalp acupuncture is a modern approach that combines traditional acupuncture with what we now understand about how the brain works. Instead of focusing on tiny individual points, it uses slightly larger “zones” on the scalp. Each zone sits over an area of the brain that helps with things like movement, sensory processing, attention, and planning. However, instead of a needle, it would be laser pens directed at the points or zones to activate them.
There are still some real challenges when it comes to bringing TCM into mainstream healthcare, and for the benefit of this, it needs to be seen and stop the chaos that is occurring. Questions often come up around the safety and consistency of herbal remedies, and some TCM approaches do not yet have the level of scientific evidence that Western systems rely on. There are also cultural differences to navigate. TCM looks at the whole person, while Western medicine tends to focus on specific symptoms, so it can be difficult for the two approaches to align.
Conclusion
Acupuncturists also provide vital support for the families of children with neurodiversity and offer a safe space for them to talk about their struggles. It can be devastating for parents to have a child who is socially isolated, so any treatment that can help a child integrate into society is a real blessing. Even tiny changes can have a massive impact on a family’s happiness, both now and in the future. It is also an opportunity to coach parents or the carer on how to treat themselves when situations or life becomes stressful.
Receiving the right treatment early on can help a neurodiverse child to live a relatively normal life and allow them to thrive in childhood, rather than just survive it. It is an opportunity to turn those figures around regarding the number of offenders serving a custodial sentence with ADHD and children with suicidal tendencies. A practice rooted in thousands of years can still support the pressures our children, communities, societies and tax-payers face today.
Author:
Louise Bears (MAA RARA)
References
Justice Select Committee Inquiry into Mental Health in Prisons
International Society for Autism Research Policy
Blum, K., Et Al, (2008). Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment
Juárez Olguín, Et Al, (2016). The Role of Dopamine and Its Dysfunction as a Consequence of Oxidative Stress. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2016, 9730467.
Acupuncture for Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders 2011
Scalp Acupuncture Treatment for Children with Autism and ADHD – 2017
Anna Venables Microsystems Therapies and Training